Why Has Personality Psychology Played an Outsized Role in the Credibility Revolution?

Authors

  • Olivia E. Atherton Orcid
    Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
  • Joanne M. Chung Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga , Canada
  • Kelci Harris Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
  • Julia M. Rohrer Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
  • David M. Condon Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
  • Felix Cheung Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  • Simine Vazire Orcid
    School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • Richard E. Lucas Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
  • M. Brent Donnellan
    Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
  • Daniel K. Mroczek Orcid
    Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Christopher J. Soto Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA
  • Stephen Antonoplis Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
  • Rodica Ioana Damian Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
  • David C. Funder Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
  • Sanjay Srivastava Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
  • R. Chris Fraley
    Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA
  • Hayley Jach Orcid
    School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • Brent W. Roberts Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA; Hector Research Institute of Education and Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
  • Luke D. Smillie Orcid
    School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • Jessie Sun Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • Jennifer L. Tackett Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • Sara J. Weston Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
  • K. Paige Harden Orcid
    Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Population Research Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
  • Katherine S. Corker Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA

Abstract

Personality is not the most popular subfield of psychology. But, in one way or another, personality psychologists have played an outsized role in the ongoing “credibility revolution” in psychology. Not only have individual personality psychologists taken on visible roles in the movement, but our field’s practices and norms have now become models for other fields to emulate (or, for those who share Baumeister’s (2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2016.02.003) skeptical view of the consequences of increasing rigor, a model for what to avoid). In this article we discuss some unique features of our field that may have placed us in an ideal position to be leaders in this movement. We do so from a subjective perspective, describing our impressions and opinions about possible explanations for personality psychology’s disproportionate role in the credibility revolution. We also discuss some ways in which personality psychology remains less-than-optimal, and how we can address these flaws.